Sales-indicator.



PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

T. E. ARNOLD.

SALES INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE so, 1904.

.T/zWzwEflw/a Inventor Attorneys Patented May 9, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. ARNOLD, OF FLORENCE, OHIO.

SALES-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,131, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed June 30, 1904. Serial No. 214,802.

To ztZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. ARNOLD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Florence, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Sales-Indicator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to registers, and has for its object to provide certain new and useful improvements whereby the device of the present invention is particularly adapted for indicating sales and also the cancellation of postage-stamps, postal cards, and the like, thereby to facilitate the work of fourth-class postmasters in making out daily statements of sales and in keeping an account of cancellations. It is furthermore designed to clearly indicate the total number of sales of different denominations and other character of postage which has been sold during the day and to facilitate the manipulation of the device in registering or indicating the individual sales.

Another object of the invention is to provide for resetting the indicating means to zero in a simple and expeditious manner.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sales-indicator embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View thereof, showing one of the indicators. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one of the indicator devices, a portion of the indicator-wheel being broken away to disclose the spring for returning the wheel to its original position. Fig. A is afragmentary perspective view illustrating the relation between the finger-piecc of one of the controlling-levers and the corresponding exposureopening of the casing.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in each and every figure of the drawings.

The operating parts of the present machine are housed within an appropriate casing 1, which is provided at the bottom with a drawer 2 to contain the stamps, postal cards, &c. Extending in a horizontal series across the front of the casing is a plurality of openings 3, through which are exposed the indicator members of a series of indicating devices.

As the several indicating devices are duplicates in construction and manner of operation, a detailed description of one of them is deemed sufiicient. A substantially horizontal shaft t extends from end to end of the casing, and upon this shaft are rotatably mounted the several indicator members, each of which includes a hub 5, loose upon the shaft and provided at one end with a fixed ratchet-disk 6, having its periphery provided with an annular series of ratchet-teeth 7, which project at substantially right rngles to the plane of the disk. Arms or spokes 8 radiate from the hub and carry at their outer ends a rim 9. The outer face of this rim is provided with a series of numerals running in arithmetical progression from zero upward according to the capacity of the machine. At each side of this indicator-wheel are standards 10 and 11, which are pierced by the shaft and constitute intermediate supports therefor. A spring 12 is connected to and coiled about a reduced axial projection 13 of the hub, with its other end connected to the adjacent standard, as at 14, for the purpose of returning the indicatorwheel to its initial position, as will hereinafter appear.

At the opposite side of the wheel is a vertically-swinging controlling-lever 15, which is fulcrumed upon the other standard, as at 16, and has its outer free end working in an upright slot 17, formed in the casing, the upper end of the slot having a lateral extension 18 directed away from the wheel and in which the lever is capable of a lateral movement when it is desired to reset the device, as will be hereinafter explained. The outer projected end of the lever is provided with a handle or finger-piece 19, and this finger-piece is provided with a character to indicate the nature of the sale which the adjacent indicator is adapted to indicate. \Vithin the easing the lever 15 is provided with a rigid pendent pawl or projection 20, which cooperates with the ratchet-teeth upon the wheel, so as to rotate the latter one space by a depression of the lever, the latter being automatically returned to its upper limit through the me dium of a spring-bar 21, which has its lower rear end connected to the bottom of the easing, as at 22, from which it arches upwardly and over the adjacent standard and has its free end terminating in a hook 23, which engages the under side of the lever and tends to yieldably hold the latter at its upper limit. In addition to permitting the lever to project at the exterior of the casing in position for access thereto the ends of the slot 17 form stops to limit the upward and downward move ments of the lever.

Below the lever and at the rear of the standard to which the lever is fulcrumed there is a horizontal working ratchet-dog 24, which is intermediately pivoted upon the standard, as at 25, with its free end cooperating with the ratchet-teeth of the indicator-wheel to prevent reverse movement of said wheel under the action of the spring 12. Between the lever and the adjacent end of the dog there is a trip device 26 in the nature of a lever, which is intermediately fulcrumed upon a bracket 27, carried by the standard, the lower end of this trip-lever lying against the outer side of the dog, while its upper end is in position to be engaged by a trip projection or finger 28, pendent from the operating-lever 15. A suitable spring 29 is carried by the standard and bears against the dog, so as to yieldably hold the same in engagement with the ratchetteeth of the indicator-wheel.

One side of the disk 6 carries a lateral projection 30, and the adjacent standard carries a stop 31, projected toward the disk and in the path of the projection 30, so as to limit the wheel to one rotation.

It will be understood that for each opening 3 in the front of the casing there is an indicator- Wheel whose periphery is exposed through the opening, and the figures upon the periphery of the wheel are arranged to be successively exposed through said opening. Each opening is appropriately marked to distinguish the character of the sale indicated by the adjacent indicator-wheel from that of the other indicator-wheelsas, for instance, by having the numeral 1 applied to the casing at one side of the opening and the character 2t at the opposite side of the opening, while the fingerpiece of the adjacent controlling-lever is provided with a similar indicatingcharacter. By this arrangement it will be understood that for each sale of a single two-cent stamp the lever marked 24 is to be depressed, wherefore the number upon the indicator-wheel which is exposed through the adjacent opening indicates the number of two-cent stamps which have been sold. To facilitate the registering of larger sales, the next succeeding openings are provided with the character 2l and the numerals 5 20, and so on, from which it will be understood that a sale of live twocent stamps may be recorded by pressing the lever below the opening marked 5 and which is of course provided with the numeral 5. The remaining openings are appropriately marked to indicate one-cent stamps and stamps of higher denominations, postal cards, stamped envelops, newspaper-Wrappers, &c., with the corresponding levers similarly marked, whereby any character of sale may be readily indicated by depressing the proper lever.

It will here be explained that each ind icating device is entirely separate and distinct from each of the other indicating devices and therefore depends in no manner whatsoever upon any of the other parts of the machine, wherefore all of the sales of each character are clearly indicated and distinguished from the sales of every other character and an itemized statement of the sales maybe conveniently taken from the indicator numerals which are exposed through the openings in the casing.

\Vhen any lever is depressed, the pendent dog or projection 20 thereof engages one of the ratchet-teeth on the indicator-wheel and rotates said wheel one space, so as to bring the next succeeding indicator member into view through the opening in the casing, the dog 24 operating to prevent return movement under the action of the spring 12, which is wound up by the rotation of the indicatorwheel. After the indicator-wheel has been rotated to its limit, which is governed by the stop projections 30 and 31 of the wheel and the adjacent standard, or after the completion of a days sales and a record has been made of the indications of the sales each lever 15 is moved laterally in the extensions 18 of the slot 17, thereby to disengage the dog 20 from the ratchet-teeth of the indicator-wheel and move the trip projection 28 into engagement with the upper end of the trip-lever 2G, and thereby press the lower end of the latter against the dog 24:, so as to release the ratchetteeth of the indicator-wheel, whereupon the latter will be free and the spring 12 permitted to return the wheel to its initial position, so as to register Zero at the adjacent opening in the casing. To permit of the necessary lateral play of the lever 15, the inner end of the latter is provided with an extension 32, which is fulcrumed upon the adjacent standard and is in the nature of a flat bar which is disposed vertically edgewise and laterally flexible, so as to permit of the required lat- IIO eral movement of the lever to disengage the dog thereof from the ratchet-teeth of the indic'ator-wheel.

To prevent accidental lateral play of the controlling-lever, a guard or keeper 33 is provided upon the interior of the casing at the extended side of the slot 17 and terminally pivotally supported, as at 34, with its opposite end provided with a handle or finger-piece 35, working in a transverse slot 36 in the casing, whereby the guard or keeper may be swung into substantial parallelism with that edge of the slot 17 which has the upper lateral extension, so as to close the extension and prevent lateral play of the lever. By shifting the guard or keeper to its other limit the ex tension of the slot 17 may be opened to permit of the lateral play of the lever sufficient to disengage the same from the indicatorwheel. A boss or projection 37 is carried by the keeper 33 to be snapped into the socket or seat 38, provided upon the casing, so as to lock the keeper when in parallelism with the slot 17 and capable of being forcibly removed from the seat by manipulation of the fingerpiece 35.

A brake-arm 39 is carried by the pivotal keeper 33, with its free inner end portion fric tionally bearing against the ratchet-teeth 6 upon the indicator-wheel, so as to prevent rotation of the wheel more than one space should a quick sharp blow be struck upon the key or finger-piece 19. It will here be explained that the brake-arm 39 is normally in engagement with the indicator-Wheel, but is of course moved out of engagement therewith when the keeper is moved away from the slot 17 preparatory to releasing the indicator-wheel and resetting the same, wherefore this brake-arm does not interfere with the resetting of the device.

Any suitable alarm mechanism may be employed in connection with the several levers to indicate that the proper registration has been accomplished.

While only one series of openings has been shown in the casing, it will of course be understood that any number of series of openings may be employed, according to the capacity and requirements of the machine; but each indicating device will of course be entirely separate and distinct from each of the other indicating devices.

Having thus described the construction and operation of myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An indicator embodying a movable indicator member, a ratchet-lever for actuating the indicator member and capable of a lateral movement upon its fulcrum to disengage the lever from the indicator member, a ratchetdog to prevent reverse movement of the indicator member, and means controlled by the lateral movement of the lever to release the dog and permit resetting of the indicator member.

2. An indicator having a movable indicator member, a ratchet-lever for controlling the member and capable of a lateral movement to disengage the lever, a pawl to prevent reverse movement of the indicator member, and a pivotal trip device in cooperative relation with the dog and disposed in the path of the lateral play of the lever to disengage the dog and permit resetting of the indicator member.

8. An indicator including a movable indicator member having ratchet-teeth, a controlling-lever having a portion in engagement with the ratchet-teeth, said lever capable of lateral play to disengage the same from the ratchetteeth, a dog engaging the ratchet-teeth to prevent reverse movement of the indicator member, and an intermediately-fulcrumed triplever having one end in cooperative relation with the dog and its opposite end in the path of the lateral play of the lever for actuation thereby to trip the dog and free the indicator member to permit resetting thereof.

4:. An indicator including an indicator-wheel having acircular series ofratchet-teeth, a controlling-lever engaging the ratchet-teeth and 'capable of a lateral movement to be disengaged therefrom, a dog engaging theratchetteeth to prevent reverse rotation of the indicator-wheel, and an intermediately fulcrumed trip-lever having one end in cooperative relation with the dog and its opposite end in the path of the lateral movement of the lever to trip the dog out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth.

5. In an indicator, the combination with a casing having a slot which is provided with a lateral extension, a movable indicator member within the casing, a controlling-lever for the indicator member with one end projected through the slot into position for access at the exterior of the casing and capable of lateral play in the lateral extension of the slot, means to prevent reverse movement of the indicator, and a trip device cooperating with said means and disposed in the path of the lateral play of the lever.

6. In an indicator, the combination with a casing having a slot which is provided with a lateral extension, a movable indicator member within the casing, a controlling-lever for the indicator member with one end projected through the slot into position for access at the exterior of the casing and capable of lateral play in the extension of the slot to disengage the lever from the indicator member, means to prevent reverse movement of the indicator, a trip device cooperating with said means and disposed in the path of the lateral play of the lever, and meansnormally closing the extended portion of the slot to prevent accidental lateral play of the lever and capable of being moved to open said extension.

7. In an indicator, the combination with a casing having a slot which is provided with a lateral extension, of amovable indicator memher within the casing, a controlling-lever for the indicator member with one end projected through the slot into position for access at the exterior of the casing and capable of lateral play in the extension of the slot to disengage the lever from the indicator member.

8. In an indicator, the combination with a casing having a slot which is provided with a lateral extension, of a movableindicator Within the casing, a controlling-lever for the indicator member with one end projected through the slot into position for access at the exterior of the casing and capable of lateral playin the extension of the slot to disengage the lever from the indicator member, and means normall y closing the extension of the slot to prevent accidental lateral play of the lever and capable of movement to open said extension.

9. In an indicator, the combination with a casing having a slot which is provided with a lateral extension, of a movable indicator Within the casing, a controlling-lever for the indicator member with one end projected through the slot into position for access at the exterior of the casing and capable of lateral play in the extension of the slot to disengage the lever from the indicator member, and a guard pivoted to the casing to normally close the extension of the slot and capable of being swung away from the slot to open the extension thereof.

10. In an indicator, the combination with a casing having a slot, of a rotatable indicatorwheel within the casing and provided with ratchet-teeth, a ratchet -lever engaging the teeth and projected through the slot, said lever capable of a lateral movement in the slot for disengagement from the ratchet-teeth, a movable keeper to prevent lateral play of the lever, and a brake carried by the keeper and engaging the ratchet-teeth of the indicator member to prevent excessive rotation of the member by a single operation of the lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS E. ARNOLD. Witnesses:

H. P. ALLEN, T. B. AYRES. 

